Sunshine looked out at the ruins of Canterlot from where she stood in a field some ways away from Ponyville, staring up as she noticed the plumes of smoke that had risen since then. A wave of sorrow came over her as she looked on, not just for her home being destroyed but also because of the life that had been lost up there to the Nameless One's attack.
"My home... my uncle... they're both gone," she managed to herself in a soft tone.
"Sunshine..." She suddenly heard the voice of Aqua calling to her. His tone also felt full of sadness and worry. She turned to the unicorn and managed a smile.
"Oh, hi Aqua," she said. "What are you doing out here?"
"I was... just worried..." Aqua managed.
"Worried for what?" Sunshine asked.
"I was... worried for you..." Aqua admitted as he looked towards the ruins of Canterlot.
"Oh..." she gave a small blush. "That's rather nice of you to be concerned for me."
"I really mean it..." Aqua blushed as well. "I don't like itwhen some one makes my friends cry..." Then with somewhat more determination and a bit of rage, he added, "The one who took away our Uncle... I'll make sure to make him cry to his end..."
At this, Sunshine noticed that color of his eyes changed from dark-pink to fiery orange, but then suddenly returned to normal.
"Aqua," she inquired, "Why did I sense such... hate from you?"
"Hn?" Aqua said in somewhat surprise "What do you mean, Sunshine?"
"I'm a Changeling; I can sense the emotions of others. It's how I survive, by feeding off it. Especially love," Sunshine replied. "And I just sensed a lot of hate from you."
"Maybe, that's my anger..." Aqua admitted, looking down to his hooves. "I have had this in me since I was very young... I truly don't know... why"
Sunshine nodded gravely. She could tell he was telling the truth due to how his emotions flared up upon saying that. But she still didn't like the amount of anger she had felt. It was... almost like the darkness her mother held inside of her.
"Uncle William would've said that was your darker side," she said, then explained, "He says that we all have a dark side to us and we also have a good side to us, and that it's up to us to decide which one controls us." She sighed. "Mommy has a darker side, called Daybreaker, that's selfish, cruel, and downright nutty. But she says the key is to know that your darker side does not have control unless you allow it to take control."
"I don't want to lose control of my dark side..." Aqua said, almost fearful of him becoming evil. "I don't wanna become a bad pony..."
Sunshine gave a small smile and placed a hoof on his shoulder.
"You're not a bad pony," she reassured. "Aunt Fluttershy says that you might make some bad decisions on occasion, but that doesn't make you a bad pony. What makes you good or bad depends on where your heart is." She made a small buzzing sound that sounded happy. "And even without being a Changeling, I can tell you have a good heart."
"Thanks..." Aqua smiled at this and gave a giggle in relief. Sunshine smiled a little wider, then stared back out at Canterlot.
"Aqua, when this is over, what do you wanna become when you're older?" the Changeling inquired, two of her eyes glancing over at him while the others focused on Canterlot.
"Well, I wanna become..." Aqua tapped his chin few times with his hoof before replying. "I wanna become... a warrior..." he said, before he realized that a warrior still sounded a little violent. "No... maybe a... Prince perhaps? I'm not sure..."
Sunshine giggled. "It's okay. You'll find out when the day comes."
"And,,, what do you wanna become when you're older?" Aqua asked tilting his head to the side. She turned to focus all her eyes on him and give him her full attention.
"Well, Mommy says I can become whatever I want,"she said. "So... I guess I want to be... an artist. Mommy says that I'm really good at it."
"That's wonderful!" Aqua said as he clapped his hooves. "I think I can become an artist too... I just need to learn about... art."
"Well, as Aunt Applebloom told me once, 'Ya never will know if ya never try.' She said that once when I asked her how come she was a good artist if her Cutie Mark was something different," Sunshine remarked. "She told me that just because your Cutie Mark shows one thing doesn't mean you aren't good at others. Maybe you should take a class with me sometime and learn the ropes."
"Really?" Aqua asked. "Of course I will!"
Then suddenly realization hit him and his smile almost vanished, but still he managed to keep a small grin on his muzzle.
"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked. "I saw that look."
"I really want this fight to end... but when it's over... I just don't know... My mind can't get itself off from thinking about bad stuff..." Aqua said as a few tears started to flow down from his eyes. "I can't take it anymore..."
He started to sob as he said this. Sunshine felt bad for her friend. She didn't know much on what to do to comfort him, so she tried something Celestia always did to cheer her up; she gave Aqua a hug and even nuzzled up to him a tad bit. Aqua took a moment to realize that she was nuzzling him, but that was different than the usual nuzzling feeling, partially because of her exoskeleton, but no doubt that was comfortable feeling. Aqua closed his eyes and returned the hug as he nuzzled her back.
Sunshine felt that the experience for her was different from whenever she did this with other ponies, such as her mother or her many aunts and uncles, but in a good way. It was strange, warm fuzzy feeling that she had never felt before. As such, she didn't realize exactly what it was, but she didn't care. As they hugged, Aqua could hear a low humming sound from the Changeling's body. It was a melodious, positive or happy sound that was coming from her. Aqua could also feel this strange feeling within him as he heard the melodious hums coming from her body. After a few moments longer, Sunshine pulled away just enough to look him in the eyes and gave a smile.
"Feel better now?" she asked.
Aqua was smiling as well as he gave her a small nod. "Yes, I do feel better."
Sunshine blushed a little. "So... you want to sit here for a while with me before we head back?"
"Alright," Aqua replied with a nod. They sat down beside each other and looked out to the sky once more as the day carried on and the sun started to set on the town of Ponyville.
Mortem was sitting in front of an empty hole, holding a charred and blackened chest plate in his magic. To most, it would have been unrecognizable, but to him it was instant as to its identity; the chest plate his father had worn into battle.
"Goodbye dad," The teenage alicorn said as he set it into the hole, using his magic to move dirt over it and stamped it down. "I'm... I'm sorry that you had to go out that way..."
He closed his eyes, and with a sob started crying, his grief finally overtaking him. After some time, Mortem took a shuddering breath and he stood, turning and walking away from the grave as he continued to sob silently.
Meanwhile, Sunny was sitting in a room along with her brother and some other young ones. She was really sad as well, not just that things seemed pretty terrible already but also because she'd lost one she called her "Uncle William." Even though she didn't want to show that she was crying in front of her brother, some sobs were still leaving her in breaths.
"I... I will be back in a while," Sunny said to Bold as she stood up from her place. Bold was also silent for obvious reasons.
"Okay... Don't go too fal, okay?" he told her
"I... won't," Sunny almost sobbed and went out of the room, just to find some silent place to let out her grief.
"No... why... just why..." She sobbed silently as she remembered the scenery of that flagship's destruction and then afterwards the news of her uncle's death. "Why couldn't we save him?!"
Sunny was just strolling around as tears were continually flowing from her eyes down to her cheeks. She just wanted see everything alright once again, as it was before all this had started. As she moved along, she suddenly bumped into someone.
"S-sorry, I wasn't looking..." she managed before realizing who it was. Mortem smiled sadly.
"Neither was I, so I think we're both at fault Sunny," he said, wiping a tear away.
"Oh Mortem... it's you..." Sunny said, looking up to the alicorn's face. Mortem noticed the tears streaming down Sunny's face, and he looked her in the eyes.
"You're upset about TD's death, aren't you?" he asked softly.
"Yes..." Sunny whined as she wiped a couple of tears from the corner of her eyes. Mortem blinked a couple of times, before he stepped forward and hugged Sunny, wrapping his wings around her.
"I know how you're feeling... I'm upset about my dad's death to," he said softly. Sunny was a little surprised as he hugged her, but she returned the hug instantly by wrapping her wings around him as well, letting out all the sobs she was holding until then. Mortem also let out his sobs, glad for the company.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry for your loss..." He whispered.
"I am sorry too... You lost your father... my sadness doesn't matter much..." Sunny whispered in reply.
"Everypony's sadness matters..." Mortem whispered. "Especially that of a mare like yourself..."
"I wish there'd be something we could do... to fix everything... to save them..." she cried.
"So do I, but we can't do anything..." Mortem said quietly. "So... we just have to console each other through our grief."
"Mmhmm..." Sunny replied slowly, folding her wings back to her side. "I guess that's the only thing... we can do."
Mortem stepped away from her, folding his own wings back.
"So... what do you want to do?" He asked, smiling as he spoke.
"I have... no idea," she smiled sadly.
"Well… do you want to go flying with me?" he suggested.
"Okay..." Sunny nodded. "That... seems like a good idea."
Mortem smiled as he opened his wings, lifting off and hovering.
"Well, let's get going then." He said, his eyes twinkling softly.
Sunny opened her wings as well and hovered after him. "Sure..." she said.
"After you," he said, smiling.
"Alright..." She said as she flew ahead of him. He flew after her, catching up quickly and flying alongside her.
"So, is there anything you want to talk about?" He said, glancing over at her. Sunny made a thoughtful expression for a moment at this, before she spoke.
"So, how is the life back in your Equestria...?"
That seemed like a good enough question to distract their minds from the stress of the current situations right then. Mortem smiled as his gaze became thoughtful.
"Well, it's not as exciting sometimes as I wish it would be... my only friends up until coming here were my sister and the children of my Aunt Celestia, Aunt Luna, and Aunt Twilight." He chuckled. "We never realized that because of our friendship and powers from our parents we'd be able to wield the Elements of Time though, so it's kind of cool to be as famous as Aunt Twilight and her friends."
"Interesting..." Sunny smiled. "So, why there weren't any friends of yours...? I mean you're a nice colt after all."
"Yeah, but most ponies think that because I'm royalty, it means they have to be respectful to me... and it just gets annoying," he explained wryly. "To be honest, you're the first close friend I've ever had, even closer then my own twin sister."
"You don't know how honored I'm to hear this, your majesty..." Sunny said while slightly bowing her head. Mortem made a sour face, eyeing her.
"Please don't..." he said, almost pleading. "I don't like being called by my title... Mortem's fine Sunny."
Sunny made a soft giggle at this.
"Gotcha!" She shouted as Mortem looked at her blankly. "I was just messing with ya. I don't like formalities either..." Sunny said. "There are many annoying ponies in my Equestria as well who want to befriend me, but only because I'm the daughter of the 'Princess of Hope.'"
Mortem chuckled slightly.
"You did get me," he said, smiling warmly at her. "I've never been tricked like that before, so you get the privilege of being the first pony to do it."
"Hurray for me," She giggled. "I've pranked an alicorn." Sunny chuckled a little as well. "But in all honesty, did you really think I'd call you by the title?"
"No, which is why I like you Sunny. You can see past the fact that I'm an Alicorn and a Prince of Equestria and see the pony I am truly," He said, turning and flying backwards while facing her.
"Well, that's partially because of my mommy," Sunny replied. "She taught me to not judge people for what they are, but who they are by themselves."
"My mom and dad taught me most of what I know about being respectful and not judging others before getting to know them first," Mortem said, smiling. "So, what's it like on your Equestria?"
"It's alright..." Sunny replied. "I mean, aside from a few things... as someone was always trying to hurt daddy... but Uncle William helped us..." As she mentioned his name, her smile seemed to vanish once again. "He was always there to help us every time... we needed him..."
"Hey, look at me," Mortem said, flying in front of her and taking her hooves. "I may not be William, or my father, but I promise you Sunny, I will always be there for you."
Sunny's face glowed with a blush as she looked towards him and nodded.
"Thanks... that's so nice of you."
Mortem blushed slightly as well. "It's... it's the least I can do Sunny."
Sunny passed a smile as her blush grew a little deeper. "Umm... I feel the same way, Mortem."
"So.. do you want to, umm... continue our flight?" Mortem asked awkwardly, feeling his heart beating a bit faster. Sunny slowly pulled her hooves away and passed him a nod.
"Yes, I guess I do..." she started to feel a little awkward at this as well.
Mortem smiled as he flew back around to her side, and mentally he was thinking, "Come on Mortem! You've faced down villains before, so why is telling her how I feel such a hard thing!?"
"So... do you have anypony in your world that you have a crush on?" he asked slowly, glancing at her.
Sunny passed him a little surprised look before she smiled and said, "Hmm... not really, not yet."
"Oh..." Mortem said, before he took a deep breath and glanced over at her again. "Hey Sunny... could I tell you something?"
"Why not?" Sunny answered with an encouraging smile. "Of course, you can tell me anything..."
"Okay..." He said, before taking another deep breath. "Sunny, I.. I think I'm in love with you."
Sunny stopped in midair as she heard this, and looked at him with a half-surprised expression, while a blush was clear on her muzzle. Mortem glanced away, blushing furiously.
"I mean, I get it if you don't feel the same, and if you don't I'm fine with that..." he said, rambling on.
"No, no it's okay." Sunny stopped him with a giggle. "Honestly though, you surprised me with your confidence..."
"I have been told I can be a bit over-confident and cocky sometimes..." Mortem said, glancing back at her and giving a small grin. "I guess I kind of take after my Aunt Rainbow Dash."
"So, tell you what Mortem..." Sunny smiled as she booped him with her hoof, "I guess, I like you too."
Mortem blinked, before giggling.
"Y.. you do?" He asked, smiling at her.
"I'm very sure I do," Sunny said with a nod. "Who knows what could happen until the war ends..." Her smile became a little sad. "So, there is no need to hide our feeling from each other."
"Yeah... so, what do we do now?" he asked.
"No idea here," Sunny replied before she smiled and went close to him to give him a nuzzle. Mortem smiled and nuzzled Sunny back, feeling a warm fuzzy feeling in his chest.
"Hopefully we'll both get through this fine..." he murmured. "Because I really don't want to be separated from you, Sunny."
"Me neither..." Sunny said reassuringly. "So, I guess we're on the same cloud."
"Yeah..." Mortem said, before smiling at her as he nuzzled her again. "But I'm glad that I'm on it with you."
Sunny made a giggle at this and then looked down below to the land beneath them. "Hmm... do you think we should head back now...?"
"Sure... if you want to," Mortem said, before smiling slyly. "Or, we could find a nice cloud to sit on and enjoy each others company for a little longer."
"I guess so... But... we'll head back after a while, okay...?" she said as she looked somewhat worried.
"We'll head back after a while," Mortem promised, smiling. Sunny and Mortem were sitting on a comfy cloud for some time, while they were talking and enjoying the weather while they still could. But for some reason, Sunny was unable to shrug off an upsetting feeling in her chest.
"Mortem, I think we should return now..."
Mortem nodded, feeling some sort of nagging feeling in the back of his mind. "I agree..."
So they flew back towards the place where they had started. When they arrived, however, they noticed a huge crowd in front of the med bay, everyone looking worried or saddened. Mortem glanced around as they landed, before he began pushing through, headed for the med area.
"Follow me!" he said to Sunny. Sunny nodded as she followed him towards the med area, wondering what was going on.
Starlight Glimmer of Prince Tempus's world walked through Ponyville, headed towards the Castle of Friendship. She wanted to check to see how TD's Twilight was holding up. As she reached the castle and walked up the steps to the front doors, she paused before raising her hoof and knocking on them. The door was opened and Diana peeked her head out. Much like so many others, especially in TD's family, she had been in mourning for the human and it was clear that she had been crying, as seen by some tear stains on her cheeks. She had at least managed to compose herself enough to answer the door it seemed, but without trying to hide the fact that she had been grieving.
"Oh, Princess Starlight," she greeted, managing a small smile. "How can I help you?"
Starlight smiled, although her own eyes carried a deep look of sadness.
"I was wondering if I would be able to speak with your mother," she said softly.
Diana nodded. "She's up in her bedroom. I'll lead you there; the interiors of the Castle here are much different than you may remember them back home thanks to Dad, so it's sometimes easy to get lost."
She led Starlight through the halls of the Castle and to a set of stairs that were build in a spiral manner, going up for a ways before it hit another set of hallways with several visible doors. One of the doors was barely open a crack. Diana pointed to it.
"That's her room," she explained.
"Thank you Diana," Starlight said, before walking up to the door and knocking lightly on it.
"Twilight? Can I come in?" She asked, loud enough to be heard.
"Depends," Twilight's voice came back, sounding like she was in a slum. "Which Starlight?"
"Tempus's," Starlight replied. "So can I come in?"
Twilight didn't answer, but the door was suddenly surrounded by Twilight's aura and it opened wide enough for Starlight to answer. Walking inside, she found Twilight sitting on her bed with a pile of tissues nearby in a waste can and a picture of TD beside her.
"Please shut the door when you enter," she asked, not yet facing her. "I... don't wish to be disturbed by anypony else."
Starlight nodded, as her aura surrounded the door and closed it without a sound.
"I... I'm sorry about William, Twilight... and I know what you're going through right now," Starlight said, her voice cracking on the last part as the act she had been keeping up until that point fell apart, and she closed her eyes as tears started to form. "Trust me... I know.."
This actually caught Twilight's attention and she lifted her head up to look to Starlight.
"I... I'm sorry too," she replied. "I should've thought about that. You and Tempus..." She sighed. "I guess I have been a bit... well..."
"It's okay..." Starlight said, wiping away a tear that was running down her face. "It's just... Tempus always told me that because of his powers, he'd always be able to be by my side... and now this..."
By now, tears were freely running down the alicorn's face, as she let out a sob. Twilight noticed this and got off the bed and trotted over to Starlight, giving her a small hug.
"I know... what you mean," she managed. "I promised William I'd always be by his side too... but then this all happened. So... I guess we're in the same boat together."
Starlight, finally giving into the grief she had been holding back up until now, could only nod as she hugged Twilight back, collapsing on her as she started crying.
"W... why did th... this have to h... happen?" She sobbed into the other alicorn's shoulder.
"I don't know..." Twilight answered, sobbing as well. "I'm not sure... why this happened..."
Starlight just continued crying, glad for Twilight's presence as she finally let out her grief for the loss of Tempus. Just then, interrupting them, there was a series of rapid knocks.
"Twilight, come quick!" Spike's voice called from the other side. "It's Celestia! I think she's hurt real bad!"
"WHAT?!" Twilight exclaimed. Starlight whipped her head around, her eyes widening as she glanced at Twilight.
"Why... why can't we just get a break?" She asked as she hurriedly wiped her tears away.
"Everyone get back! Give the Princess some space!" Bill ordered as he rushed ahead of Diego Kapila, who was gently lifting up Celestia's form in his arms, seeming surprisingly strong for his build, though it also could've helped that she was a winged creature. Celestia was barely conscious, muttering out random statements from time to time, but one sentence was actually translatable.
"Sunshine... where's Sunshine...?" she asked.
"Save your energy, Celestia," Diego told her. "We're almost there..."
There was a flicker of black lightning, and Michael ran up beside Bill, his different colored eyes focused on him.
"Want me to clear the path?" He asked, as small sparks of black lightning arced through the air around him.
"I've got it," Bill reassured him, using his psychic powers to move ponies out of the way with ease if they weren't fast enough. "You just clear a spot for us in the medical bay. And someone call Luna, even if she's asleep!"
Michael nodded, before he took off running again. There was a blast of air, and a blue mist shot away from the group; it was obvious that Nightmare Moon had taken it upon herself to go get Luna. Meanwhile, with Virin, he was currently doing some push-ups.
"One thousand five hundred five," he counted up still, before beginning to hear a commotion in the town. "Shoot!"
He flew into the air as he began to fly towards the disruption of his training, forgetting his high number as he did so. Once landing on the ground beside his allies, he asked them, "What's going on?!"
"Princess Celestia's been injured!" a pony told the Saiyan as they stood outside the medical bay, waiting for them.
"Say what?!" Virin shouted at the pony. "She's of immortality. She can't be hurt!"
"She can still die!" a unicorn in the crowd piped up. The doors to the Castle of Friendship opened and Spike, Twilight, and Princess Starlight came rushing out and over to the small convoy.
"Celestia!" Twilight shouted in worry. "What's wrong with her?"
"We don't know yet. She just collapsed and from what it seems, she's also got several broken ribs," Diego answered.
"Where's Joy?" Bill asked them as he moved a cart out of the path. "And Bubble? She may not be their Celestia, but they'd want to know as well."
"I'll find them!" Princess Starlight said as she raced off. She returned shortly with the ones in question.
"We're here!" Joy called aloud as he and his wife reached them.
"What happened to Princess Celestia?" Bubble asked in worry.
"Is she alright...?" Joy asked with so much concern in his voice.
"That's what we're going to find out," Bill stated as they reached the building where Red and the medical staff were situated. Inside, Red had just gotten prepped for them.
"I just finished up with Sunrise. What happened?" he inquired.
"We're hoping you could help us out with that," Diego said as he placed Celestia on the table. Red placed a hand on her head, then suddenly cursed aloud. "Darn it, Tia!" he yelled. "Why can't you just think about your own health for once?!"
There was a burst of black lightning, and Michael raced up, his eyes glowing brightly.
"Need my help Red?" The Pyrunian asked.
"It doesn't look good..." Joy's voice becomes a little heavy with some sadness "Tell me, you can do something to save her..." Joy asked Red.
"Michael, do Tia a favor and find Sunshine," Red told the Pyrunian. He then turned to Joy. "I'll do what I can, Joy and to the best of my ability."
"Understood," Michael said as he took off running, racing through Ponyville as he searched for Sunshine. Bubble's eyes already started to tear up a little as she could feel what Red and others were implying. She tried to shrug it off, but for some reason she couldn't stop sobbing. The blue mist returned and both Nightmare and Luna appeared, the latter rushing over to her sister.
"Tia!" she cried. "What happened to you, sister?"
"I'm... sorry Luna..." Celestia managed weakly. "I just... wanted to help... other ponies first..."
"Well that was a bad choice," Red remarked. "You've got seven broken ribs, and currently one of them has punctured your lung. Also, you've got internal bleeding that's been going on for quite a bit."
Luna looked even more surprised, then got angry.
"Tia, you should've told us!" she shouted.
"You got that injured, and you didn't even say a word..." Joy was at a lost for words now, as he rubbed his forehead due to stress. A flash of black lightning occured and Michael returned with Aqua and Sunshine. The eight-eyed Changeling immediately rushed over to Celestia's side even as Red was prepping her.
"Mommy!" she cried. "Mommy, are you okay?"
Celestia managed a small smile. "I am now that you're here, my little Sunshine."
Red soon stopped as he realized a terrible truth.
"I'm sorry guys," he said telepathically, although they already knew his answer before he spoke, due to his expression. "She's not gonna make it. There's not enough time..."
Luna and Twilight were saddened immediately.
"No..." Twilight whispered.
"Tia... sister..." Luna sobbed.
"Celestia... don't go..." Princess Starlight pleaded. Sunshine knew what was happening before anyone had answered.
"No... Mommy, please don't go!" she begged. "I promise I'll never be bad again! Don't go, please!"
Aqua looked towards his parents who were looking really stressed at the time.
"Dad, what happened to the Princess?" Aqua asked. In response, he didn't get any answer but a hug and some painful sobs from his parents.
"We don't know my little foal.." Bubble sobbed. "We... don't know..."
By now, at seeing Celestia in that state, Virin now had some tears in his blue eyes. He started to shake a little as he began to make a sobbing sound.
If this was my Celestia, he thought sadly as he sobbed to himself. Then I would do everything in my power to bring her back to health. If there was just something I could do, but I can't do anything between this other Equestria; that'll go too far from the rules of universe travel.
"Princess Celestia..." Joy sobbed. "Please don't... go..."
"No, not again... not you too..." Bubble sobbed aloud as well, as trails of tears began to appear on her cheeks. They didn't notice instantly but in some moments they also that Evan was standing beside that bed as well. He didn't say a word but just stood there lowering his head while his sobs could be heard clearly as well.
"Please... my little ponies... let me speak, please..." Celestia managed softly. Many of them who were standing there went a little more closer to the bed, while some of them were still sobbing and some of them were trying to stay strong. Aqua went near to the bed where Sunshine was standing crying as her tears were rolling down on her cheeks.
"Luna... as of now... I am giving you full command as Equestria's ruler... until Sunshine comes of age," she said, making Sunshine's sadness rise a bit, knowing that she'd never say this before without actually being close to death. "Rule our country well..."
Luna gave a small sad nod. "I'll... try, sister," she answered tearfully.
"Twilight... take care of Sunshine for me... when I'm gone..." Celestia continued. Twilight nodded.
"I'll care for her... as if she was my own daughter," she answered. Celestia then turned to Sunshine.
"Sunshine, my beautiful daughter... I've always loved you, from the moment I first laid eyes on you..." she said between a cough. "You brought to me the greatest gift I could ever ask for in all my life... a light upon my dreary duties as princess... and that was having you for a daughter. I... will miss you the most... Be well... my little Sunshine..."
Sunshine didn't reply, but simply cried into her mother's mane as Celestia managed to drape one of her wings across her daughter to return her hug one last time. Aqua's eyes also teared up as soon as he realized that, and started to cry as well, as he felt his breath going a little upset due to shock. The Saiyan started to speak up, making the white alicorn look at him.
"Celestia," Virin began. "Despite not coming from this Equestria, I just wanted to say...I'll miss you. I want to...make everything right by defeating our foes, even if it means losing my life. However, I'll...just say...if my Twilight were here with me...she would be heartbroken too, even if she's not here. I will keep this a secret for you, but I want to go back to my family and friends if I can somehow get back to my world. I'll stay here until then. I can...say a lament, if you want..."
Celestia gave a nod to signal her consent. Virin sighed as he began the lament.
I'll make sorrow go away
Grief, oh grief, go away
As you go, I watch you go
If you stay away, I will stay away
But if you don't, I'll keep you away
As I watch you go away, then things go away
If you are not going, I'll make you go
If you stay away, I will stay away
I'll make sorrow go away
Grief, oh grief, go away
As you go, I watch you go
But if you don't, I'll keep you away
If you stay away, then I will stay away
But if you don't, I'll keep you away
As I watch you go, then things go away
Celestia smiled a bit more, then turned to her subjects and friends.
"Do not lose hope, my little ponies... the fight is not over yet. Fight on, and you will win the battle," she said softly, then added so low that none save Sunshine and those with heightened hearing could hear her, "I must follow my parents..."
Celestia's eyes closed and her head dipped downwards as a glow from her horn appeared and touched the tip of Sunshine's curved horn. There was a momentary flash between them, then Celestia was gone. Just then many of them broke to tears, now without holding back. Bubble ducked her face in Joy's chest at this as she continued to sob loudly. Joy's eyes were shedding tears as well, as he kept stroking Bubble's mane.
"Sleep well..." was all that Evan said in low voice as Princess Celestia passed away. "You'll always be remembered and missed by this Equestria, and by many others."
Sunshine was already crying , burying her face into her mother's mane, which had stopped its usual flowing motion as soon as she had died. As she sobbed, she held tight to Celestia's form.
"Goodbye... Mom..." she whispered. "I'll make sure... your name is never forgotten."
Bill's eyes were full of tears as well, but he didn't cry aloud. Instead, he walked over to Celestia and gently removed the crown from her head, then looked to Sunshine and gave her the crown.
"It's yours now," he said. "To remember her by."
"Riposare in pace, Principessa," Blade said in Italian from the crowd and he placed his hand to his chest. Virin, now knowing that Celestia was gone, sobbed rather loudly. Joy began to make sniffles as well as he hugged Bubble even more tightly.
"She's gone..." he whined. "She's really gone..."
In the midst of everyone's grief, a question was suddenly raised.
"Wait, how will we raise and lower the sun without her?" a pony asked. Upon hearing this, Sunshine climbed up onto the table to look to the crowd. Her horn glowed a bit and all noticed with surprise that the sun was lowering in the sky, signaling a sunset. She stopped it midway to speak to them.
"Mom and I practiced a few times before by having her channel her magic through me... It was her final gift before she..." She couldn't finish and just hung her head in sorrow. Aqua looked at her with his tearful eyes as she moved the sun, feeling really sad and for some obvious reasons proud of her at the same time. From within the crowd, Scootaloo managed to push through to where Virin was still sobbing and gave him a hug, wrapping her wings around him as well as her hooves to help him relieve some of his grief. Feeling the comfort wings of Scootaloo, Virin started to get dark thoughts in his mind right now.
I am going to kill those monsters, even if it's the last thing I'll do now, was what he thought. They'll pay for this, even if they hadn't touched Celestia. I am still going to avenge this world from those evil creatures.
After a moment, Diego picked up Celestia's body.
"I'll have her prepared for burial," he said as he carried her out.
"That'll be best," Bill agreed. Luna was still sad, but she did manage to compose herself long enough to preform something that was part of the ways of Equestria.
"We shall mourn for her together. Prepare a ceremony, for we must attend to not one but two events," she ordered, then lowered her head once more. Aqua looked towards his parents and then towards Sunshine. Even being just seven years old right now, he was feeling so enraged over Celestia's death. The only thought which was rumbling in his mind was to end each and every one of them who were responsible for her demise.
Just you wait whoever you are. Once I get my hooves on you, I'll make sure to make you cry to your end! I swear, Aqua thought.
Somewhere at the outskirts of Ponyville, the shadowy figure from Canterlot was looking up towards the beautiful town, which seemed to look like a safe haven from the forces of The Nameless One. So far, the enemy had not attempted to move in on them or try to destroy the town with the technology at his disposal.
"So this is the town called 'Ponyville.' This will be... interesting for me..." The Masked Figure spoke up. Then he raised his staff and he summoned a Nevermore and hopped on it's back.
"Take me there," He commanded. The Nevermore nodded, the lifted up into the sky as it flew towards the town. In Ponyville, the first to notice something was wrong was Ruby, who spotted the figure from a ways up in the air.
"Guys! We have a Nevermore!" the young huntress called out, causing her friends to gather around her and look up into the sky as well.
"How did a Nevermore follow us here from Remnant?" Blake asked, her cat ears flattened against her head.
"I don't know, but it doesn't bode well for me," Diego remarked.
"Hold up! There's someone on it's back!" Red shouted to them. "And he's flying it towards us."
"What do we do then?" Weiss asked.
"We wait," Bill answered for her, walking to the front of them. "But be on guard anyways..."
As The Nevermore flew, it let out a screech. Virin looked up into the sky as he heard the screech.
"What's that doing here?" he asked his allies.
"We're about to find out," Red muttered, then pulled out a megaphone and called up, "Land your Nevermore now and state your purpose, or we will attack!"
"And know that we're not in a good mood right now!" Joy seemingly scolded the figure. Virin slapped himself in the forehead when he heard Joy.
"Really, Joy?" he asked the human. "You had to say that right now?"
I really meant it..." Joy crossed his arms as he looked towards Virin. The Masked Figure patted the Nevermore as it descended to the ground. As soon as he had landed the Nevermore, Bill pulled out his sword and advanced towards the Masked Figure, the blade pointed at him in case he tried anything. It's hard to seem intimidating sometimes when you're barely half the size of the figure you're facing down, but Bill managed to pull it off.
"Who are you and how did you find us?" he demanded. "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
Michael raced up, his sword already drawn as he skidded to a stop, eyeing the Masked Figure.
"So, what we got here?" the Pyrunian asked, keeping his eyes focused on the potential threat.
"I am on no one's side... But I can lend you a hand..." The figure stated. He Got Off The Nevermore and he Saw Team RWBY. "Ah... Team RWBY... It's nice to meet you in person."
"How do you know who we are?" Ruby demanded.
"What do you want?" Yang added, balling up her fists.
"It's best if you answer buddy," Red remarked.
"Agreed," Michael snarled as he raised his blade, pointing it at the stranger. "Because some of here are on edge right now."
"If I must..." The figure took off his mask, revealing his golden eyes. "I am Onyx Shadow. Tis a pleasure to meet you," he said with a bow. Virin still had his guard up, not trusting him. Michael steadily advanced, lowering his sword so it wasn't aimed at Onyx, yet placed so he could raise it in an instant if necessary.
"How do we know this ain't some trap our enemies have devised?" The Pyrunian growled. Evan just kept looking at the figure without blinking, as he was trying to recognize him. Joy was looking ready for a fight at any time.
"Lemme try," Red suggested, looking to Onyx. "Are you actually here to help us?"
Onyx chuckled as the Nevermore disappeared into black smoke. "Indeed I am..."
Red stared hard at him, then turned to his friends.
"He's telling the truth," he told them. Team RWBY, Diego and Bill all lowered their weapons, for they knew that Red was capable of telling when one was lying, so they trusted his word. Virin, still having his guard up, looked at Onyx with eyes of suspicion.
"If you're here to help us," the Saiyan started, "then you'll help by defeating our foes?"
Michael lowered the tip of his sword to the ground, his different colored eyes glowing slightly.
"How can you be on nobody's side, yet lend us a hand and say you aren't on our side?" He asked, narrowing his eyes. "Seems like kind of a self-refuting statement to me."
Red looked up to Michael with a grin.
"Need I remind you that I'm in the same boat?" he asked. "The only ties that keep me on your side are my friends and family."
"True, but I trust you Red," the Pyrunian said, before gesturing at Onyx. "But I know nothing about him, so I can't yet fully trust him."
Meanwhile, Evan held his new journal and opened it up as it floated in the air in front of him, then a quill appeared in front of the book and began to write in it. While the quill was writing, Evan looked towards Onyx a few times and then after he was done he closed the book.
"Neat..." he muttered.
Onyx went silent for a while, then he spoke, "You can trust me or not, but I will help you."
"If Red says you're good, then I guess I'll have to trust you," Michael said, raising his sword and sheathing it. "But I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Red gave Michael a smirk.
"Good choice," he said, then looked to Onyx. "Quick question: do you know how to do guerrilla warfare?"
"Yes Why?" Onyx asked.
Red chuckled. "Let's just say, this next few weeks are going to look like a repeat of the Vietnam War..."
Red, you cheeky bugger!
So yeah, this chapter in my opinion was a bit rushed. Sorry everyone!
Hope you enjoyed regardless, and I'll cya in the next one!